Finally all home safely 7/23/13

Finally home and the photo Patti would love to own the

negative of has made it to the blog sight. We did return Monday, July 15 on schedule and with zero hitches

at the airports. I received a note yesterday saying that the last of our team, Courtney, arrived safely after several extended days with John, Paula, Zach and Zane Sauder. thank you Lord.       Dave 7/24/2013

Day with the widows

   We spent the better part of the day with the widows, some that Kathy (my daughter) and a prior team had worked with. This team spent a day with them earlier in the week. We danced, sang, each group did a skit, visited the piggery, wow!

   Primary purpose of the visit was to distribute foam mattresses covered with plastic to keep them clean. Perhaps 35-45 mattresses were passed out. They are so used to sleeping on hard concrete floors that some may take time to adjust. They were thrilled to receive them along with reading glasses custom fit by our team eye specialists.

   We have lots of photos and the teens appear to have vanished, perhaps recovering from a mix of stomach disturbance and mild fever. Some are taking meds and some going without. The trend seems to be 24 hours and improvement. Courtney (snoozing beside the pool) gave me a thumbs up a few minutes ago, then back to a nap.

   Riley has learned the trill noise these women make with their tongues and on arrival, shortly after sitting down let loose, after which the widows went wild with joy that someone made the effort to imitate their joyous sounds. Victor gave his testimony, Praise God that he is with us! The widows pulled him up and into their dance routine of which we had several.

   Pizza and\or fish tonight for dinner. The real ice cream lovers had banana splits (I passed) last night after a pepper steak dinner so you can see we are really roughing it! It is so cool here, with a wonderful breeze off of Lake Victoria (which is in sight) we need to wear jackets for breakfast and dinner! I love the weather here!

      Door to door witnessing in the morning as we split up into groups of two or three plus a interpreter. Then to the Kingfisher for a late lunch. Seems like we eat all the time. Some of the youth brought almost as much snack food as clothing! Still no teens so I will sign off for now. Sorry for rambling dear.

    Dave

Good morning from Uganda. It is another beautiful day. The birds are singing glorious praises to the Lord! What a choir they are here. We were able to sleep in this morning. Breakfast is at 8:30 instead of the usual 7 a.m. No complaints there! Today our plan it for the whole team to go to visit the first group of widows in Mufabira. A donation was given to purchase mattresses (a piece of foam) for some of the widows. If they don't own mattresses, they sleep on the floor (ground). Last night he team was told there is need for 6 more mattresses, an "on the spot opportunity"...I will update you later to tell you how the Lord stirred and how the team moved.

We has banana splits or dessert last night. The guest house is a wonderful place. They are taking very good care of us. Spoiling us, actually! Great food, showers, beds. The Lord has blessed us with these accommodations.

Some of the team are feeling a bit of Uganda stomachs! Pray for the Lord's hand in strengthening upon us and sustaining us to do His will.

The men completed the physical labor at the mission. Drew help Andrew with some IT projects.It will be good to go all together as a team today. May the Lord shine his light through us today and may we be changed!

Even though communications is sparse, we think of you and miss you at home. But it is soooo good to be here.
God's blessings on you,
Patti for the Team

Good morning from Uganda. Pastor Isabirye Emmanuel is looking over my shoulder as I type this. We have worked shoulder to shoulder this week laying paver blocks. "Emma" for short, is the interim pastor of the new church plant and will lead us in devotions this morning. In Uganda most pastors have to do some kind of work during the week, just like Paul, and Emma does his for MLI, praise God. Will send photos later when the teens wake up.
Entire team off to see the widows this morning.
   Dave

Dane with the finished pavers!

Drew and Dane preparing for pavers 

the sidewalk before

more of the sidewalk

finished sidewalk

Lost all prior 2013 photos?? Not sure why?

The first two days for the female members of the team were spent visiting widows.  Praise God! were the first words out of their mouths.  They were raising their hands and singing and dancing and gave us a wonderful Ugandan welcome.  We were humbled.  We shared our testimonies and sang for them and then they entertained us!  They planned special dramas for us (they were very funny and told about real issues that the widows faced).  We provided hot food for their lunch then gave them dresses for their little girls, reading glasses and toothbrushes and toothpaste.  They were thrilled and so very appreciative.  They blessed us with their joyful hearts and strength in the Lord.  They also taught us to dance which required a great deal of flexibility in the hip area).
Another highlight was buying flour and handing it out to the widows.  The young girls (Courtney, Kaila and Hattie) filled about 80 bags of flour.  They were doing well until Rick Sadler decided to help.... meaning that, he started a flour fight... the Caucasian girls were whiter than ever!  We helped the widows make and stuff fleece pillows.  They were delighted with them and it was good for us to be able to interact with them in this way.
Our plan is to return on Friday with the whole team to deliver mattresses to some of the widows who sleep on the ground.

On the third day the women on the team were joined by Victor and Ronnie.  We performed a drama for the children at a Christian primary school.  Victor was Jesus who rescued Courtney from the temptations of life.  It was well received.  Most of the team also shared their testimonies including Ronnie, Kaila, Victor, and Courtney.  The team members fell in love with the kids and were mobbed often.  We worried about several of the team members trying to smuggled children home in their backpacks:)  Thank you for entrusting your young people to our care... you would be proud of them... we are.
Patti and Riley

Well, what do your expect from a total nerd. At least I finally got some photos on blog!

Sunday morning we worshiped in the sanctuary that prior teams helped to build. There is a regular week of worship activities that take place. The seats are very serviceable, thank you to the 2011 team and of course the roof and fine roof trusses are thanks to the help of the 2010 team. Lots of testimonies from the congregation.
The pastor's school just began classes for the next year. They meet on the second floor of the large Lubas building and there are dormitories for students who come from all over Uganda.

Cairo wait, all is quiet, thank you Lord.

Here we are patiently waiting at Cairo airport. A ten hour layover. Seems like Egyptian Air likes to have folks wait, both in New York city and Cairo. The team was in good spirits. Dane is the best sleeper in the group!

Matt and Dane at church entrance. Terrazzo affect as we ran out of pavers

Before shot at main church entrance

Finished View of the sidewalk at Lubas, white stones are new

Back again, I must have something correct since I see a posting for 2013. The girls had a food (flour) fight yesterday and returned with flour coated from head to toes. Someone claimed that Rick started it but that is yet to be confirmed. The guys returned with red clay and cement dust coating their clothes from cutting the concrete pavers with a diamond blade which makes a clod of white powder, Yuck! Next challenge will be to  figure out how to post photos. Sorry for being so slow about this.

Did find my original posting filed away in the "draft" file!

Dave